Invitational basketball tournaments began play on Thursday and included the 2019 Rus Hitchcock Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament at Nikiski High School for the Bulldogs and the Joe T Invitational at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks for the Kenai Kardinals. The Soldotna Stars enter Northern Lights conference play with a two-day, home series against the Colony Knights beginning Friday.
Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament Thursday-Saturday Nikiski High School
The Nikiski girls and boys basketball teams host a round-robin format tournament with teams from Glennallen, Houston, and South Anchorage High School (varsity girls and jv boys).
Tournament Schedule: All Nikiski games on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Thursday Game Results
Glennallen Girls 20 – South 41
Glennallen Boys 63 – South JV 24
Nikiski Girls 59 -Houston 13
The Bulldog girls lead 33-2 after the first quarter and 50-6 at the half. The second half was running-clock for the entire half, as the Bulldogs win 59-13. Bethany Carstens lead the Bulldog girls with 24 points.
Nikiski Boys 43 – Houston 45 OT
The Bulldog boys rallied from eight points down in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 42 and force overtime. In the overtime, the Bulldogs manage a single freethrow and Houston scores a single field goal and freethrow for a 45-43 overtime victory.
Friday, January 18
Nikiski Girls 61 – Glennallen 34 Bethany Carstens scores 22
Nikiski Boys 48 – Glennallen 58 Jace Kornstad lead Nikiski with 21 points.
Saturday, January 19
Nikiski Girls 54 -South 40
The Bulldog girls displayed their most-balanced attack in the championship game against South downing the Wolverines 54-40. South lead 16-8 after one quarter. The Bulldogs rallied with a 22-6 second quarter for a 30-22 halftime lead. Bethany Carstens scored 13 points in the first half and 15 for the game.
Nikiski Boys 56 – South JV 23
Ten Bulldog boys scored in a 56-23 victory over the South JV team in the tournament’s final game. Jace Kornstad lead Nikiski with 18 points; Michael Mysing added 13.
Joe T. Classic Tournament Thursday-Saturday Lathrop High School
The Kenai girls and boys basketball teams travel to Fairbanks for the Joe T. Classic Basketball Tournament at Lathrop High School. The field includes 4A teams Lathrop and Kodiak, 3A Monroe and Kenai in a round-robin format.
Tournament Schedule: All Kenai games on KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com
Thursday Game Results
Kenai Girls 40 – Lathrop 49
The Kardinal girls played even with Lathrop for a 21-21 tie at the half. Lathrop lead 34-28 after three quarters and won by nine points 49-40.
Kenai Boys 75 – Lathrop 72 OT
The Kardinal boys surrender a double-digit lead in the second half and rally to defeat Lathrop 75-72 in overtime. Tyrone McEnerney hit a pair of three point shots in the overtime to push the Kardinals past Lathrop.
Friday, January 18
Kenai Girls 49 – Kodiak Girls 34 Jaycee Calvert scores 24 points on eight threes.
Kenai Boys 54 – Kodiak Boys 52 Adam Trujillo scored 23 points for Kenai.
Saturday, January 19
Kenai Girls 46 – Monroe 34
Kenai Boys 36 -Monroe 59
